Take the Towards Zero Challenge
With these simple sustainable actions, you can help build a brighter and greener future for Stonnington. We can create change and make a difference when we all work together.
You'll find some simple actions to get you started, as well as some more advanced steps if you’re up for a challenge. Join us, and play your part in creating a more sustainable future for us all.
5 steps to get started
Compost food waste with Council’s food and green waste service
From fruit and veggies to coffee grounds and eggshells, many different food scraps can – and should – be composted. You may already have a food and green waste bin, but if you don’t, request a bin today. Don’t forget you can pick up a free caddy and compostable liners from our Customer Service Centres.
Live in an apartment? Take your food waste to your nearest food waste drop-off point or check out our Apartment Composting Program, where you can get in on the fun and compost on-site with your neighbours.
ShareWaste is another great option. This initiative connects you with neighbours who are accepting extra scraps to feed to their own composts, worms or animals. Find an interested neighbour near you.
Get a pet poop composter
How are you disposing of your pet’s waste? The best solution for your garden and our planet is a pet waste composter. This will keep our garden clean and green. Grab a subsidised pet waste compost bin through Stonnington’s partnership with Compost Revolution.
Choose package-free fruit and veggies
It’s a simple switch. But opting to buy loose fruit and veggies – over those in plastic wrapping – has a dramatic impact on our planet.
In fact, an 18-month study by the sustainability charity, Wrap, found that selling loose apples, bananas, broccoli, cucumber and potatoes (with best-before dates removed), could save more than 10,300 tonnes of plastic and about 100,000 tonnes of food waste in the UK every year. Easy change for you, massive win for our environment.
Watch our webinars to prepare your home for summer or winter
Energy consumption typically increases during the warmer and cooler months. But how can you ready your home to reduce energy bills and your carbon footprint? It starts with listening to energy efficient experts.
Hear from the experts by watching the webinars on our reduce energy at home page.
Ready to level up?
Borrow seeds from the Stonnington Seed Library
Starting a veggie or herb garden? Get some extra help by borrowing seeds from the Stonnington Seed Library. Members can borrow up to three seed packets per month.
To become a member, visit your local Stonnington Library.
Participate in Buy Nothing New month
Overconsumption is a core driver of climate change. The antidote to this? Buying less.
Tackling a one-month challenge is the ideal place to start. The rules? For one month, commit to not buying anything new (except for essentials like food, hygiene products and medicines).
Find out how you can get involved by visiting the Buy Nothing New website.
Participate in our My Smart Garden program
Looking to learn how to grow food, shelter your home from the sun and wind, use water wisely and recycle waste?
Discover it all by joining the My Smart Garden program. You can also find gardening tips, events and opportunities to connect with your local gardening community in their newsletter.
Volunteer with a local environmental group
Whether you want to clean up our streets or green them, be part of a Sustainable Stonnington by volunteering for one of Stonnington’s fantastic environmental groups. Keep an eye on our Environment eNews for a monthly summary of working bees.
Switch to green power
Moving to renewable energy is one of the most significant steps you can take to improve our future. Switching is also simple.
Find out how to get started on our renewable energy page.
Up for a challenge?
Invest in a future to be proud of
Choosing an ethical bank and superannuation provider are two of the most powerful choices you can make to reduce your environmental impact.
Market Forces has made it simple by creating two handy comparison tables to see how your bank ranks and where your super stands.
Advocate to state and federal governments to act on climate change
Influencing policy is one of the most positive impacts we can have on our planet. That’s why we encourage you to engage with your state and federal Members of Parliament (MPs). These politicians are there to listen to you – and represent you in Parliament.
Find out who to contact and how to get in touch with State and Federal Members of Parliament.
Install solar panels
Solar panels are a brilliant investment. They’ll increase the value of your property while reducing your carbon footprint and energy bills.
To learn more or find out what rebates may be available to you, visit our renewable energy page.
Borrow a home energy kit from Stonnington Libraries
With our free home energy audit kit, you can assess your home’s energy use patterns and make changes to decrease energy consumption and save money. To learn more or reserve a kit, visit our reduce energy at home page.
Get active and log plants and animals on the ClimateWatch app
Understanding the status of our flora and fauna is crucial to helping shape Australia’s response to climate change. ClimateWatch is at the heart of this recordkeeping. To play your part, explore your nearest ClimateWatch trails and record the plants and animals you see on the ClimateWatch app.